Software and app development start-up Medical eGuides has launched a new app that provides international healthcare workers with information on how to treat patients infected with Ebola.
The guidelines come from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and are designed to keep medics safe while treating patients infected with, or suspected to be infected with, the disease. This includes instructions on how healthcare workers should don and remove their protection equipment and how contaminated waste should be disposed.
“Being well versed on WHO protocols on Ebola is critical, as a single lapse can lead to a spread of the disease,” said Medical eGuides managing director Eamonn Costello upon the announcement.
The release of the app comes on the back of news that Nina Pham and Amber Joy Vinson, two healthcare workers in Texas, contracted the disease after treating Thomas Duncan, the first person ever diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, at the Texas Health Presbyterian hospital. According to The Guardian, 75 staff members have been asked to sign ‘binding legal order’ that states they will avoid public spaces.
“Lapses in protocol have already led to infections in healthcare workers in mainland Europe and the USA,” said Costello.
“While we hope healthcare workers here in Ireland are not faced with treating Ebola patients, nonetheless being prepared and understanding the protocols is critical should the situation arise.”
The ‘Ebola Guidelines’ app is currently available via on the Android App Store and will be released for iPhone next week.
Ebola image via Shutterstock